Early perfusion and dopamine transporter imaging using 18 F-FP-CIT PET/CT in patients with parkinsonism.

Combined use of 18 F-N-(3-fluoropropyl)-2β-carboxymethoxy-3β-(4-iodophenyl)nortropane (FP-CIT) for dopamine transporter imaging and 18 F-fludeoxyglucose (FDG) for glucose metabolism shows good diagnostic performance for differential diagnosis of Parkinson disease (PD) and Parkinson plus syndrome (multiple system atrophy, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, and dementia with Lewy bodies). A recent study showed that 18 F-FP-CIT positron emission tomography (PET) with early perfusion imaging is useful for the differential diagnosis of PD and Parkinson plus syndrome with lower radiation exposure, time, and cost. In this review, we summarize the advantages of using 18 F-FP-CIT PET for perfusion and dopamine transporter imaging, as well as clinical features useful for the differential diagnosis of PD and Parkinson plus syndrome.